Intermittent-motion rotary sprinkler



Nov. 17, .1931. Af E, HARRls 1,832,205

INTERMITTENT MOTION ROTARY SPRINKLER Filed oct. 21,' ,1929 2 sheets-sheer 1 Nov. 17, 1931. A. E. HARRIS v INTERMITTENT MOTION ROTARYl SPRINKLER Filed ooi. 21, 19?@ 2 Sheets-Sheet .2

Patented Nov. 17, 1931 "STATES rarer ALBERT E. HARRIS, OF SAN MARINO, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR TO THOMPSON UFAG- `TUBING COMPANY, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, A CORPORATION 0F CALIFORNIA INTERMITTENT-LOTION ROTARY rSPRINKLIEXR.V

Application led October 21, l'v29.,v .Serial No. 401,923'.

r1`his invention relates to a. sprinkler vdevice having a rotary head equipped with nozzles through which fluid is directed to a desired area of application.

This invention is an improvement on the sprinklers of the character disclosed 'in the U: S. patent to Guadalupe Buelna,y No. 1.640,7 51, patented August 30, 1927, in which a sprinkler head is intermittently rotated as a result of reciprocation of a piston withina chamber. In this sprinkler the piston is moved in one direction by a springpand i1i` the opposite direction by the accumulation of water in the chamber. A valve situated within the chamber is employed to alternately close and open an outlet and is retained respectively in closed and open positions by spring fingers whichfrictionally engage a lug formed on the valve member.v The piston carries a. pair of springs adapted to apply opposing forces against thevalve member, so that as the piston moves in one direction one of the springs will be compressed until the force eX- erted thereby against the valve member will overcome the resistance of the spring lingers and allow the valve to snap over. f

It is an object of my invention to provide in a valve mechanism of the character above described a slide memberwhich vwill be moved through part of its movement as a result of positive pressure applied by amovable member, which may be a diaphragm or piston, and which slide member is moved through the remainder or final portion of its stroke by a separate means which may be in the form`of a collapsible toggle of thecharacter hereinafter disclosed.

It is a further object of the invention to provideV a valve mechanism of the above character which will open and close at predetermined positions of a pressure responsive member and which avoids the counterb-alancing of a spring under compression against a frictionally engaging stop means.

A further object of the invention is toprotion of the circular area.

vide a motivating means for producing rotation of a sprinkler khead having parts cooperating in such a manner that the sprinklerk sible to sprinkle `one portionfof a circular area without applying Water to another por p Further objects and advantages of the invention may be perceived from the following part of the specification and the accompanyy ingV drawings, in which A' f Fig. 1 is apartly sectioned elevational view of a sprinkler device embodying the features of the invention, this view showing the valve in closed position. .y

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view corresponding to Fig. 1 and showing the motivating 'mechanism at the end of a reciprocation whereby an intermittent movement of the sprinkler head or distributor has `been acf complished.

Fig. ,3 is a fragmentary vertical section showing thevalve operating mechanism in raisedposition and ythe valve of the device inkv closed position. i

Fig. 4 is a. sectional view similar to Fig. 3 showing the valve operating mechanism in an intermediate position. l

. Fig. 5 is a fragmentary vertical cross section on a plane represented by the line 5--5 of Fig. 1. y l l Fig. 6 is ay liorizontalcross section on planes representedby the line 6- 16 of Fig; 2. y Fig. 7 is a horizontal cross section on a plane represented bythe line -of Fig. 2.

Fig. v8` is a fragmentaryv perspective view for .illustrating the operation of the pawl and lever mechanism of the invention to pull the` distributor or sprinkler `head vof lthe sprinkler device inV forward rotative direction.

` The preferred form of myinvention, as shown in Figs', 1 and 2, has a delivery member 11 which consists of a fitting 12 adapted to be threaded on the end of a pipe 13, and a tubular arbor or barrel 14 which threads into and projects upwardly from the fitting 12, the upper end of the hollow arbor 14 having a ange 15 on the upper end thereof whereby a radial annular shoulder 16 is formed. For purpose of engagement by a tool to screw the arbor 14 into the fitting 12, a diainetral slot 17 may be milled in the upper end thereof. 0n the delivery member 11 a rotatable distributor member 2O is mounted, this distributor member including a tubular wall structure 21 fitting'the arbor 14 between the shoulder 16 and the upper extremity 22 of the fitting 12, an enlargement 23 at the upper end of the tubular wall structure 21, a nozzle head 24 which makesthreaded engagement at 25 with the enlargement 23, and a cylindrical wall 26 having a valve cap 27 at the upper end thereof and a flexible diaphragm 28 secured in the lower end thereof by means of a fitting 29 which is held in place by a threaded ring 30, a chamber 31 being thereby formed within the cylindrical wall 26.

Vithin the cylindrical bore 32 of thenozzle head 24 which forms part of the distributor member 20, a tubular valve member 33 may `be placed, this tubular valve member being of such external diameter that it will closely fit the bore 32 and having downwardly projecting lugs 34 which extend into the ends of the slot 17 in the upper end of the arbor 14,

this interengagement of the lugs 34 with the arbor 14 preventing rotation of the tubular Valve member 33 as the distributor`20 is rotated relative thereto.

To permit a flow 'of water, or other fluid, from the interior of the arbor 14 into the annular passage 36 of the enlargement 23, the

Vlower edge 37 ofthe tubular member33 may be relieved, as indicated in Fig. 2, or the lower portion ofthe member 33 may be perforated in alignment with the annular passage 36, as may be desired. The upper, dianietrally enlarged portion 38 of the member 33 has an aperture 40 therein, aligned with the inner ends'41 of water passages 42 in the extending arms 43 of the nozzle head 24, these arms 43 having nozzles 44 of a desired character threaded in the ends thereof, as indicated at 45. As the distributor 23 rotates, the inner ends 41 of the passages 42 will alternately traverse the aperture 40in the tubular member 33 so that during such portions of the rotary movement of said passages 42, water will pass therethrough to be discharged through the/nozzles 44. As the inner end 41 of each passage 42 traverses the parti-cylindrical wall portion 46 circumferentially ad- "jacent to the aperture 40, it will be closed od by such wallportion 46, and the flow of water 'therethrough will be interrupted; It will be readily perceived that by proportioning the arcuate lengths of the aperture 40 and the wall 46, any desired angular area forming a part of the complete circular area which the sprinkler device is capable of sprinkling may alone be sprinkled and the remaining portion of the circular area left unsprinkled.

' For instance, the sprinkler may be placed at the Vcorner of a rectangular area to be sprinkled, and the arc of the aperture 40 may be made 90, with the result that as each of the passages 42 rotates, it will traverse the aperture only during its passage through au angle of 96 coincident with the angle of thel corner at which the sprinkler is placed, thereby causing the sprinkling of the sector within the corner of the previously mentioned area without sprinkling outside of this area. The valve member 33 may bereadily removed so that the nozzles 44 will sprinkle a complete circular area.

In the upper end of the valve cap 27 is an outlet passage 47 for egress of water from the chamber 31. Aligned with the inner end of the outlet 47 is a guide tube 50 which is threaded at 51 into a counterbore formed in the lower face of the cap 27. The guide sleeve 5() holds a U-shaped spring member 52 in such position that the arms 53 of the spring member 52 will project downwardly withinA the chamber 31. Carried in the guide sleeve is a valve member 55, the upper end 56 of which is diametrally reduced and is prepared k,with a cone point for closing the outlet 47.

As shown in Fig. 5, the Valvemeinber 55 is equipped with an outwardly extending pin 58, this pin projecting through a vertical slot 59 in the guide sleeve 5() and through a vertical slot 60 in a slide member 61 which is rlhe slide member 61has a square body portion 62 formed intermediate its ends, which body portion is drilled on opposite adapted to slide vertically on the guide sleeve ioe sides to receive the ends 63 of toggle arms 64 Y and` 65, these toggle arms 64 and 65 making pivotal engagement at 66 and 67 with the lower ends of the 'spring arms 53.

The diaphragm 28 is preferably made of lmolded rubber and by means of a screw 68 secured therein holds a yoke 69, which, as shown in Fig. 3, includes upwardly extending fingers 70 adapted to engage the upper face of a flange 71 formed. at the lower end of the l'Vhen the water in the water distributing system is turned oli1 so that there is no pressure exerted within the distributor 23, the diaphragm 28 will be forced into raised position, as shown in Fig. 1, by a vertically reciprocat- Vtubular portion 72 of the slide member 61.

the member' 73, thereby holding the head 7 6 in engagement with the lower central surface of the diaphragm 28 Vand constantly urging the diaphragm upwardly. When thev diaphragm 28 is in the raised position shown in Fig. 1, the surface 7 7 of the yoke 69`will` restagainst the lower end of the guidesleeve 50.

` Then the distributing system to which the sprinkler is attached is turned on, kwater under pressure will liow upwardly through the arbor 14, and a portion thereof will pass through the annular passage 36 of the en largement r23, through a radial recess 80 communicating with the annular passage 36, and through a passage 81 which is controlled by a flow regulating valve 82, into the chamber 3l. is water accumulates in the chamber 31 due to the valve member closing the outlet 47, the diaphragm 28 will be forced downwardly from the position in which it is shown in Fig. 1 to such position that the fingers 70 of the yoke. 69 will approach the flange 71 of the slide member 61, as shown in Fig. 3, and as the downward movement oi the diaphragm 28 continues, the fingers 70 of the yoke 69- will move the slide member 61 downwardly toward and through the intermediatefposition shown in Fig. 4, the toggle arms 64and swinging from diagonal and crossing positions, such as shown in Fig. 3, toward substantially horizontal positions, as indicated in 4, the spring arms 53 being flexed outwardly from their positions of Fig. 3 to their positions of Fig. 4 due to the expansion of the toggle device formed by the toggle arms 64 and 65. y

Then, as the downward movement ofthe slide member 61 is continued, the toggle arms 64 and 65 will be swung further downwardly vtoward a position indicated by the dotted lines 88 of Fig.` 4, at which timev the resilient collapsing force exerted by the spring arms 53 will cause a collapsation ofthe toggle vdevice, due to the downward component of the diagonal forces exerted on the slide member 61 through the toggle arms 64 and 65, and will thereby `produce an abrupt downward movement of the slide member 61 to the position thereof indicated in Fig. 2. During this downward movement under resilient force exerted by the toggle device, the upper end wall 84 of the slot 60 in the slide member 61 will engage the pin 58 of the valve member 55 so as to pull the valve member downwardly from its closed position of Fig. 1 to its-open position of Fig. 2. lt will be perceived that the downward movement of the slide member 61 consists of two portions: ijrst, an initial downward movement which is accomplished by engagement of the lingers with. the flange 71, and second, a final downwardmovement which is produced by a separate means such as the toggle arms 64`and 65 which are normally urged toward upper and lower collapsed positions, such as 'indicated vin Figs. 3 and 2, by the spring arms 53. y

'During the initial portion of the downward movement of the slide member 61, the slot 60 moves relative tothe pin 58, but during the rin al'pvortion ofthe downward movement, the end 84 of the slot 60 engages and moves the pin58 downwardly and produces the withdrawal of the valve member 55 from a closing position relative to the outlet 47, whereupon the water impounded in the chamber 31 will discharge throughropenings 49'in the member 50 andthe outlet 47, thus permitting the diaphragm 28 to'be moved upwardly from its position ot Fig. 2 toward its position of Fig. 1. vArs the yoke'69 ismovedupwardly by the" diaphragm 28, the face 77 thereof forces the slide member 61 upwardly from its position of Fig. 2 toward and to its position of Fig. y4. This upward movement of the slice member 61 by the yoke 69 which forms part of a,movablememberactuated inl one directionk by fluid within the chamberBl may be termed the .initial upward or closing nievementi o'f the slidemember, and during such initialolosing movement of the slide member the slot 60. may move relative to the pin 58, or the lower; end oi' the slot 60 may, during this upward movement, engage and start to move the pin 58 upwardly. l/Vhen theslide member 61 approachesor assumes theposition indicated in Fig.- 4, the toggle arms 64 and 65 will have swung into such upwardly sloping position that the spring arms 53 will cause collapsation of the toggle device and'subsequent movement of the toggle arms 64 and 65 and the slide member 61k intoA the positions in which they are shown in Fig. 3, the flange 71 at the lower end'of the slide member61 being raised from engagement with the surface v'Z7' of the yoke 69 into a position adjacent to the upper ends ofthe lingers 70.

The movement ofthev slide member 6l upwardly by the toggle device from the position in which itis shown in Fig. 4 to the positionv in which it is shown inFig. 3 constitutes the 4final upward or closing movement of the slide member 61, and it isduring and at the end of this viinal closing lmovement of the slide member 61 that the valve member 55 is carried into closed position, as indicated-in Fig. 3.

The closing of the opening 47 immediately stopsthe egress oljwater from the chamber 31, with the result that the inliuX or" water through the inlet passage 82 will immediately start a downward movement of xthe diaphragm andfinitiate a second cycle of operathe slide member may then be moved through y Aa final, valvev operatingmovement by the separate means embodied in the toggle device represented bythe togglearms (Safand V6 5.

The member 73 is bifurcated at .its lower end 90 and b-y use .of a -pin 9,1 pivotally .en-

ing a downwardly projecting tooth 100.

adapted to engage teeth 101 of a'circular ratchet 102 formed concentrically on the litting` 12v of the delivery member 11.

ln Fig. 8 the member Z8 is shown in raised position to correspond to F 1. As thedia.- phragm 2S is moved downwardly underpressure and due to the accumulation of water in the chamber 31, the member 73 will be forced downwardlyv against the lifting action vof the spring 75, and the bell crank lever 92 will be swung into the position in which it is shown by dotted lines 105 in Fig. 8, with the result that a pulling action will be exerted on the ratchet 102 'by the tooth 1'00 of the pawl 97, and the distributor will be thereby pulled forwardly through a small arc of rotation. lVhen the valve 55 is opened in the manner previously described and the member 73 is allowed to move upwardly under the impelling forces of the spring 5, the bell crank lever 92 will be returned fromits iinal position shown in Fig. 2 .to its'initialiposition shown in Figs. l and 8, the prawl 9.7 being moved over into a new position of engagement with the ratchet 102 and r-eady for a subsequent distributor advancing operation,

ihe control valve 82, shown best in Fig. 6,

may have a slotted end 110 projecting into the passage 81, and therebythe flow of water into the chamber 31 may be controlled and varied to produce a desired timing of th-e intermittent advancing operation of the vmotivating mechanism `hereinbetore described.

l have herein shown a simple and practical form oi" my invention, but it is recognized that certain parts orelements thereof are representative of other parts, elements, or mechanisms which may be employed in substantially the same manner to accomplish substantially the same results; therefore, it is to be understood that the invention shall not be limited to the details disclosed 'herein but sh all have the scope set iorth in the-following claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. A sprinkler ofthecharacter described having a delivery member and a distributor, including: walls forming a chamberadapted to receive :Huid from said delivery member,

Lasagne an inlet for ingress ofa controlled flow of `fluid into, said chamber, andan outlet for egress of fluid from said chamber; a valve for closing said outlet; a slide member having initial and nal closing movements and initial-and final opening movements; va spring collapsed toggle'device for moving said slide' member through its respective final movements after it 4has been moved through its respective initial movements; a movable member moved by accumulation of* fluid in said chamber when said outlet is closed, lsaid movable member having p arts engaging said slide member so as to move said slide member through itsl respective initial movements; parts carried by said slide member for respectively closing and opening said valve during the'respective final closing and opening movements of said slide member; and means operated in consequence of the movement of said movable member to move said distributor relative to said delivery member.

l 2. A sprinkler of the character described lhaving a delivery member and a distributor rotatively ymovable relative to said delivery membemincluding: walls forming a chamber adapted to receive iiui'd from said delivery member, an inlet for ingress of a controlled low of fluid into said chamber, and an outlet for egress of liuid from said chamber a valve lor closing said outlet; a slide member having initial and iinal closing movements andA initial and final opening movements; a spring collapsed `toggle device for moving said `slide member through its respective final movements alter it has been moved through its respective initial movements; a movable member moved by accumulation of iuid in said chamber when said outlet is closed, said movable member having parts engaging said slide member so as to move said slide member through its respective initial movements; parts carried by said slide member for respectively closing and opening said valve during therespective final closing and opening movements of said slide member; and means operated by saidmovable member for intermittently moving said distributor forwardly.

3. A sprinkler of the character described having a delivery member and a distributor rotatively movable relative tosaid delivery member,'including: walls forming achamberadapted to receive fluid from said delivery member, an inlet for ingress of a controlled flow of Huid into said chamber, and an outlet for-egress oli-fluid from said chamber; a valve 'for closing said outlet; a slide member having .initial and iinal closing .movements and initial and final opening movements; a-spring collapsed ytoggle device for moving said slide member through its respective linal movements after-1t has been moved through its respective mitlal move- Aments; a movable member moved by accumulation vof `fluid in said chamber when said outlet is closed, said movable member having parts engaging said slide member so as to move said slide member through its respective initial movements; parts carried by said slide member for respectively closing and opening said valve during the respective final closing and opening movements of said slide member; a ratchet; a lever reciprocated by said movable member; and a paivl carried by said lever, said pavvl engaging said ratchet whereby to intermittentlymove said distributor.

4c. A sprinklerof the character described having a delivery Vmember and a distributor Inova-bly mounted relative to said delivery member, including: Walls forming a chamber adapted to receive liquid fromlsaid ydei livery member, an inlet into said chamber for ingress of liquid under pressure and an outletffor egress of liquid from said chamber; a movable member moved relatively outwardly by accumulation of fluid in said chamber; a valve v controlling the flow through said outlet; a slide member moved by said movable member and engaging and closing said valve near the end of its closing stroke and engaging and opening said valve near the end of its openingstroke; a spring collapsed toggle member engagingl said slide member in a manner to resiliently force said slide member toward the extremes of the positions of said slide member; and means operating in consequence of the movement of said movable member to move said distributor.

5, A sprinkler of the character described having a delivery member and a distributor,

including: Walls forming a chamber adapted to receive fluid from said delivery member, an inlet for ingress of a controlled flow of liuid into said chamber. and an outlet for egress of fluid from said chamber; a valve fdr closing said outlet: a slide member having initial and final closing movements and initial and final opening movements a collapsible toggle mechanism for moving said slide member through its respective final movements after it has been moved through its vrespective initial movements; pressure transferring means moved by the accumulation of iiuid in said chamber. when said outlet is closed and engaging said slide member so as to move said slide member through its respective initial movements; parts carried by said slide member for respectively closing and opening said valve during the respective an inlet for ingress of a controlled `flovv of fluid into said chamber, and an outlet forI i egress of fluid from said chamber; a valve for closing said outlet; a slide member having initial and final closing movements and initial and final opening movements; a collapsible toggle mechanism for moving said slide member` throughl its'respective final movementsafter it has been moved through its respective initial movements; pressure transferring means comprising a diaphragm moved by the accumulation of fluid in said chamber vwhen said outlet is closed and engaging said slide member so as to move said slide -member through its respective initial movements; vparts carried by said'slide member for respectively closing and opening said valve during the respective final closing and opening movements of said slide member; and means operable in consequence of the movement of said pressure transferring means for moving said distributor relativey to said delivery member. n

7. A sprinkler of the character described having a delivery member and a distributor, including: Wallsforming a chamber adapted to receive fluid from said delivery member, an inlet for ingress of a controlled flow of fluid into said chamber, and an outlet for `egress of fluid from said chamber; a valve for closing said outlet; a slide member having initial and final closing movements and initial and final opening movements; a collapsible toggle mechanism for moving said slide member through its respective final movements after it has been moved through its respective initial -movements; a diai pnragm member moved by the accumulation of fluid in said chamber-When said outlet is closed and engaging said slide member so as final closing and opening movements of said slide member; and means operable inconsequence of the movement of said pressure transferring means for moving said distributor relative to said delivery member.

A sprinkler of the character described having a delivery member and a distributor, including: Walls forming a chamber adapted to receive fluid from said delivery member, 

